JackSampson

iTrader: (2)

If you are removing a cai and going back to a stock airbox without the stock resonator I doubt you will feel a loss in performance. Most of the cai's performance is perceived because it makes more noise. I had a fujita and switched back to stock airbox with a drop in k&n and I feel no decrease in performance.

bmccord

I just did this a few weeks ago. After trying to do this with the bumper on I realized it was going to be impossible to get to the the bolt closest to the headlight behind the resonator. However, I only needed to remove the bolts/screws/clips halfway across and that gave me plenty of room.

Not sure if anyone has tried this but I used a small handsaw that was about 12" long and had fine teeth (like the crap you see Norm using on The New Yankee Workshop) and gently cut the downtube from the top of the resonator. Once all the bolts were out, I was left with a nice clean pipe from the airbox to the lower finderwell area.

I love how you can hardly notice it when putting around town but at WOT above 5K it has a nice deep growl. Exactly what I was looking for.

jungy4

I am consindering doing this cheap mod and dropping a K&N filter into the airbox. I used to have a CAI on my other cars before and sometimes I felt like I wasted money.

Does anyone have sound clips?

How far down are you guys' empty straight tube into the airbox?

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

Just take out the res and do the K&N...easier and simple.
I have sound clips in another thread, but at this point I've got stageIII exhaust and jpipe so it won't sound the same.

Jcaron9gt4

Just did this yesterday, has a nice deep tone when you lay heavy on the throttle. Took out everything up to the bottom of the airbox, but will be cutting the pipe off the res and connecting it again to the airbox to take in the air a little further down.

supra9s

My first mod to the TL.....not sure if it really made a difference but its not gonna hurt anything

soulimports

Is the DIY around?

snake134

iTrader: (1)

almost did this mod, but wanted to be able to put it back to factory if needed. the resonator box doesn't exactly just go right back in

r3devi7

iTrader: (2)

Sounds like remove the front bumper, then take the 2-3 bolts out of the large resonator box, on the end of the intake tube. So you are left with this \/ This should help also, from 2:32-3:13, that is the resonator box that you want to remove.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wdg4l...layer_embedded

I would like to see rehosted pics of this setup though
I am going to attempt this myself tomorrow, assuming its not pouring out, and I can find someone to give me a hand.

soulimports

did this mod i sawed off the tube connected to the resonator stuck it back on the air box and connected the other tube from the other end on it to extend the intake and love it

veggiemonster

iTrader: (1)

i am srsly upset with all these links having practically zero good pics. and that this forum doesn't show the code/link when it is bad. annoying.

anyone have the "icebox" thing with actual pictures?

either way. i'm thinking of just building a ram air kit or modifying my stock airbox. i just know i am NOT taking the bumper off. but i used to have a short ram intake for my maxima that had a velocity stack on it. surprised that no one else has/had thought of this.

chaiDog

So is this what the finished product looks like:



This is reducing the hot air issue by using that pipe?

Also, I just remove the box and attack the tube from the box to the top like in the picture or does someone have a more detailed description?

I am going to do this soon, once I get a new ignitor for my headlight and the bumper is going to be removed as well.

AcuraIntegTL

This is a great alternative to a CAI. I've had the same setup on a few of my prior cars.

K&N Drop-In + Mod Stock Intake = Saving Lots of Cash

However, with my TL I decided to go with the best CAI I could get, without spending a lot. Main reason I did was to have something installed that’s been dyno tested. I decided to go with Injen Cyborg intake, which is also CA CARB Exempt! I found it on ebay for $220 with free shipping, if you’re interested.

I agree any mods to the stock intake or a CAI install will require taking the front bumper off, not because it's not possible to do, but it saves a lot of time. Trust me I tried.

So far I have noticed the same benefits as all of you that modified the stock intake. Makes me wonder why they put all that crap on the tip of the stock intake system, sound? One part actually went back into the engine bay to suck hot air. Either way you decide to go, Mod Stock Intake or CAI, it’s a great first mod.

jpm3071

Does anyone have any pictures?

TheBumbino

Just got done doing this.

Have to say I would not even try this without removing the front bumper.

It seems to be a bit tougher to do this on an 08 TL. I had to remove the battery to get to the bracket for the section up the intake which loops back up into the engine bay(this loops into the fender well and is easily removable on earlier models from what I have seen). It had a piece of rubber with a bolt in it which is supposed to come out without removing it but I could not do it. I reused the piping from the very end of the intake and made a ghetto CAI.

So far I haven't noticed much of a difference aside from a very mean sound at higher rpms 4k+. The lower ranges have a nice deeper tone to them when accelerating at about medium throttle.

Although I haven't tried driving much different from how I regularly do. Will also need to see how gas mileage is.

meh

Once you remove the resonator, you can also take the extra step to route a new plastic tube to the front of the bumper grill, right next to the fog light. This will help direct more fresh air rather than having the intake suck air from the inside of the bumper.

DC2many

i'm also looking to do this soon lol

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

Actually, since doing this, I recently revisited and made myself a CAI...check out this other thread:

https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-performance-parts-modifications-112/3g-diy-poor-mans-cold-air-intake-pics-853546/

DC2many

Wtfff does my front lip need to be removed as well? This is a fucking pita after I took most the bolts off the lip adhesive fucked up and the pop clip behind the lip mount bracket is fucking stuck rheirheishxhcris god damnit any other way around this

DC2many

so i finished putting on upper and lower bolts and so far got nothing but wasted time and messed up my lip a bit... gotta go to work now fuck!

awaiting further replies i should have done this when i installed the lip in the first place

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

No sir, LIP doesn't have to come off (you mean Aspec, right??!)...you just have to move the edges out of the way to get the clip and screw that attach to the bracket that holds the lip, then the bolts/clips underneath...1 screw in the upper part that attaches bumper to fender...pop that out first and then tug near the headlight and it all pops out (obviously, start at the top).

DC2many

yea i gapped my lip by moving it off the brackets then from that point spent like 5 mins on the clip and no budge and just re-verted everything and carried on my day

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

Well, I should have mentioned too, that you will have to pull back the double sided tape a bit to get at the bracket.

Retry on the weekend when you have a bit more time. It shouldn't take more than 15 minutes to get the bumper off.

DC2many

Just took it all apart and also took off all engine covers as well, car seemed a little more responsive and has a gruntier note from the front end

i ended up using a powerdrill and slowly drillsawing it at the mount under the battery because that thing wouldn't budge. Was quite a pita ripping the shit out and scratched that flat panel that the resonator attaches to a lot, hopefully it doesn't rust there

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

Spray it with some paint...

mY sLOW UA6

I just took out my CAI intake and out my stock box back in.
I feel like i may have gained better low end.
I did lose the awesome sound of the CAI though.

AcuraIntegTL

I did the same thing. Took out my Injen CAI and dropped in a K&N replacement filter and modded the stock intake. Definitly had better low end with this option. However, I installed a AEM CAI, I just couldn't pass on it since the price was so good.

AEM CAI you feel more of the VTEC kick in compared to the Injen, but the modified stock intake still has better low end then both CAI. Love the sound I have again.

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

I have the best of both worlds...
Still have the sound, but for all practical purposes...I still have the low end too, and the OEM look!

J.
sheck it out
https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=853546

AcuraIntegTL

I saw this thread a while back and have to say, it's a great budget option with a nice sleeper look. I wonder how difficult it would be to run a pipe from the stock rubber flex tube opening through the stock airbox, and then connect a cone dry filter? I may mess with this idea now that i have all the stock parts out.

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

Well, I just put that thread together a week ago!
If you really look, you end up with a big chamber for water to have to get sucked up through so it helps to avoid hydrolock, plus, even in the ridged area of the intake, from the inside it's smooth...it sounds like CAI, even farts when you turn it off.

I have an AEM Dryflow filter on there.

mY sLOW UA6

^^ Did it sound better than just the intake resonator removal?
I'm thinking about trying it.

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

Honestly, yes...sounds just as beastly as when I had my AEM V2 when I had my RSX-S...and it does that little whistle sound when blipping throttle and does the fart sound when turning off the car.

It's a poor man's cold air intake! AND it keeps the filter about a 1/2 foot higher up than a traditional CAI...

BukvaMan

I took out my K&n intake and went with the stock setup. I love having my low end back, which our engines struggle to beginwith. I think the stock setup is really good. Even the battery cover makes a difference by isolating hot air from the inlet. The cold air gets pushed up trough the bumper grill and gets trapped under the battery cover to a certain point and then sucket in trought the inlet into its path. I will never ever put a noise maker on my car that actually hurts overall performance and filtration.

sauceja

iTrader: (2)

I am leaving it this way for now until I figure what filter to run. Plus I have a new oem filter and the one in car is only 4k miles on it so gonna be a while.

Haven't driven this way yet but the res chamber is holding the weight for the moment.




If I do anything it will be to cut some behind dr. side fog light and run a ducting that is not completely attached to closer to the res. area.
That way if I hit a puddle or someone splashed my front lower grille it won't have the vacuum to suck water all the way up but yet still vent air to the general area.

This is temporary but about to drive it.

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

^^^That's bascially what I did...but put the hose clamp on to hold that tube on from right under the stock box...then jammed an aem dryflow filter in. Works great...routing cold air would be awesome too, I'm sure.

JW64

After reading through this thread I decided to do this job today and I am glad I did! It took about 1 1/2 hours to complete and I can definitely tell a difference in throttle response. Ripping out the tubing was difficult, but nothing some elbow grease couldn't fix. I decided to take a hammer to the resonator box to break it up so I could get the piping with the rubber piece that was already connected to the air filter box. It had other crap attached so I cut it off at the joint.

I have already deleted my mid-muffler, but with the resonator removed it has increased the growl to the perfect level for me. My wife got in for a drive over Paris Mountain in Greenville and instantly noticed the new tone and loved it.

I have an OEM filter currently in, should I switch over to a K&N Drop in?

Photos from the job:


Topless


Resonator


Pipe from the intake box, sawed off to get colder air


Final Product

Taking off the bumper was an interesting experience, but I feel much more comfortable with my car now. I highly recommend this job since it is FREE!!!!

JW

mau108

Aww man I want to do this soo badly but I don't got the time and taking apart body panels and reattaching usually fitment issues...

SmoothImports

I did this on my S about two months ago and honestly I feel and hear no change. I mean the stock intake and filter flows more cfm's then the manifold can in the first place. So I dont see this or any intake mod changing much in the way of power or response. If the throttle body and manifold are already maxed out on airflow freeing up more before hand isn't going to anything besides add sound. We should be modding the weakest link first, though it's more costly and not DYI friendly, that's where the gains will be seen.

Esanchez8701

I have to ask this question, mostly toward Rockstar, buddy I have an 08 TL and i am so interested in this thread has me flowing with ideas. I was thinking what if I removed the resonator as you did and several hundred others lol, but also add a filter on to a tube so it sits at the bottom of the bumper leaving the stock air box in. that air box is mid sized box sits on the top of the engine bay. and as you guys know its like a big empty space. Will that hurt the low end power at all or increase ? Currently i have a drop in K&N filter. I was originally thinking of just removing the resonator and leaving it. But this was my other thought.

Thanks guys and sorry if this is a noob question im just learning as I go along.

Nick216

Before doing this mod i had 15 mpg all city. Now after it im getting 18 mpg. so if u dont do this mod or atleast get a CAI u are missing out, on a free MPG boost and a louder intake. idk how its possible to gain 3 mpg off this but i did and i assure u its the same route traveld, with same avg mph. now go take advantage of this its free. BUMP